Amusement apparatus



June 28, 1960 R E KUNSTLER, JR, EFAL 2,942,882

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 18, 1958 MUW.

INVENTORS e. W. W, w f 87 2 w W um TE 2M mw f P w June 28, 1960 R. E. KuENsTLER, JR., E'rAL 2,942,882

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS 20.3527 VEA/Szafe, Je. vfy 7125:5452,

Patented; June 258, '1,9560

p AMUSEMENT ArrARArUs Robert Er 'Kuenstlen Jr., Rte'. ;3, Box 33x, and Duane W. Tressler, Box 908, Graham Air Base, both of Marianna, Ela.

Filed July 18, 195 8, Ser. No. 749,370

`3 Claims. (Cl. 2713-1) The present invention relates generally .to a game or amusernent apparatus and specifically to an interconnected apparatus for `ernployment by two juvenile persons to` simulate the drawing and shooting of pistols as in a gun Lduel. v

An object of the present nvention is to provide an amusement `vapparatus which'lends itself to competitivreV play by two juvenile persons sirnulating shooting ofpistolsasin argunjduel. i

Another object of the present invention is to provide an `amusement apparatus which enables 'two or. more juvenile persons to competitively test their abilities in 'the drawing and drawingof. a Weapon from a `holste r, the apparatus 'e'rrrployingvmeans'by whichonegun orfpistol isrendered in-V -operativetif drawn from the holster laterfthan the'drawing of the ,othergunfromthe holster. p i i A furtherobject of the present invention 'is to provide anarnusement apparatus' which .is fool-proof in'operation, one simple in structure, one'economical to manufacture and assernble, and one which lis highly effective in action.

These and otherobjects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent :from the 'following 'description when taken in conjunction with theja'nnexed `drawings, in which:

present invention, worn by 'two persons and showing the method ofrplay while employing the apparatus of the `present invention;

. Figure 2Vis an elevational view of one of the `holsters with one of the guns installedtherein;

Figure 3 is a schematic view of -the lelectrical circuit employed with the apparatus of the present invention,V

with parts of the gun barrels each in position lactuating i a switch mechanism of the circuit, the gun 'barrel parts being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of'the assembjly shown in Figure 2; o

VFigure '5 is a fragmentary sectional view of Figure 4 showing the trigger-locking mechanism in action;

Figure 6 isl a view on an e'nlarged scale, Vtaken on the line 6- -6 ofFigure 4; i

Figure 7 is a viewon-anenlarged scale, taken on the line 7-'-7 of Figure 4; i

Figure 8 is an isometric view of a ;portionoffthe latching mechanism used in the present invention; i

Figure 9 isa fragmentary view taken onthe line 9-9 -of-1Figure 8 and'on an enlarged scale; and

Figure` 1'0 vis la'n enlarged view of a circuit making por- Referring in greater detail to the `drawings in which i Figure ``1 is'a'n 'isometric view of the apparatustof the o like lnumerals indicate like parts throughout the several. o

views, thetreference nurneral 12 designates a 'holster having a v 14,insertable and withdrawable from the holster 12. The gun 14zhas a barrel 16, the free end 18 of which ,engages one-end ofla lever 20 When the gun 14'is inserted in the .holster' 12. A second holster 22 is provided and-a gun 24 is insertable into and Withdrawable from the holster 22. The construction of each Vgun-14 and 24 is identi- 'calrand the construction ofthe -holsters 12 and 22 are 26Jto the -holster 12 for movement about the pin 26 as a i horizontal axis. A small coil spring 28 has one end bearing against theunderside of the lever 20 adjacent the pin 26 and the other side bearing against the underside of a frame portion 30 within the holster 12. The spring 28 biases the lever 20 torthe position in which the contact 3-2 on the other' end of the lever 20 remote from the gun ibarrel' 16 of the gun 14- is in contact with the fiXed contact 34 dependingly carried from'the frame portion 30.

l-Upon removal of the gun barrel 16 from the holster 12 the lever 20 moves from the position shown in full lines in Figure 10 in which it is held in the open circuit position to the dotted line position under the action of .the

.spring 28'to ;close the contacts 32 and 34 and to complete the circuit `of the apparatus. In the schematic View shown in Figure 3 the spring' represents the spring 28 land is shown as a coil springunder compression. i i An energizable element, embodying electromagnets 56 andV 37,l is positioned within theholster 12at two positions; one underneath lever V20, and 'the other in the wall of holster 12 adjacen-t the underside of and intermediate -the'ends of the barrel 16 of the gun 14 when the gunl is inplace in the holster 12. The function of the electromagnets 37 is to insure that the circuits in the two holsters7 12 and 22, never remain; closed sirnultaneously. Electromagnets 37, when energized, act to hold switch :pointsi32 and 3 4open in the same manner that the gun barrel'l acts When inserted into theholsters againstthe top side of levers 20. This function will be readily seen as the complete operation of the invention is described. As

shown in Figure l, a junction Vbox 38 is providedV and is connected by a paired Wire conduit 40 to a source of current such as a wall` outlet in a 'residential housecircuit. The junction box 38 is connected by other conduits e12 and -44 to the switches in the bottom-of each of the holsters 12 Vandt22 and to the respective electromag'nets 36 and 37 in the holsters 12 and 22. This cross-over'connection is shown in Figure 3. In place of the connection to Ithe house current, batteries may be substituted or a steptdownttransformer incorporated in the .junction box 38 in .orden that thecurrent carried by the'contacts 32 and34 be limited to voltages which normally are not dangerous per se. o i p p i An articulated looking member-46, Figures 4, `8 and 9, `is slidableV as a unit within theba-rrel 16 of vthe `gun 14 and ``has a triangular enlarged portion '48 on one end thereof constituting a combined cam and hook. The-portion 48 has a cam face 50 and a hook face 52;V asVshown-most :elearly in Figure 8;

The locking member 46 is articulated intermediate its length and the rearward portion 541is slidably supported 'in apertures provided in partitions 56 and 58 Within-the gun barrel 16. For the present, the sliding feature of the looking member 46 is to vbe put aside for Vexplanation later.:

The forward portion 60 of the looking -member-is i the electromagnet 36. The core 66 has an abutment 68 against which the hook face 52 of the portion 48 of the member 46 engages when the coil of the electromagnet 36 is energized and the forward portion 60 of the locking member 46 is swung toward and into engagement with the core of the electromagnet 36. The forward portion 60 of the locking member 46 is of magnetically attractable material and is responsive to energization of the electromagnet 36 to engage the latter and to lock the barrel 16 against withdrawal from the holster 12 When the hook face 52 engages the a'butment 68.

A pin 70 is insertable through an opening 72 (Figure 4) in the underside of the gun 14, through an aperture 74 in the rearward portion 54 of the locking member 46 and into an aligned opening 76 in the adjacent portion of the gun barrel 16. When the pin 70 is in position in the registering openings 72 and 76 and traversing the aper-ture 74 in the locking bar 46, the latter is held against sliding movement within the gun barrel 16.

In operation, the guns 14 and 24 are positioned in their respective holsters 12 and 22 with the free ends 18 and 18' of the barrels 16 and 16' bearing against the adjacent ends of the levers 20 and 20' and holding the associated movable switch contacts 32 and 32' out of engagement with the fixed contacts 34 and 34'. Upon withdrawing of one gun from its holster the gun in the other holster is immobilized and cannot be withdrawn from its holster. This is accomplished in the following manner. Withdrawal of the gun 14 from the holster 12 permits the lever 20 to'tilt under urging of the spring 28, engaging the contact 32 with the contact 34 and completing the circuit beginning with one of the power lines 40, extending through wire 39, Wire 41, Wire 43, wire 45, electromagnet 37', Wire 47, electromagnet 36', wire 49, and ending with the other of the wires 40, as shown in Figure 3. `This effects the energization of the electromagnets 36' and 37' with the energization of the electromagnet 36' pulling the portion 60 of the lock member of the gun 24 to the position in which the hook face 52 engages the abutment 68 and prevents withdrawal of the gun 24 from the holster 22. Simultaneously, the electromagnet 37' is energized and effects a holding open of the contacts 32 and 34 in case there is any play of movement between the hook face 52 and the abutment 68. The reverse action occurs if the gun 24 is withdrawn from the holster 22. In the latter instance, the gun 14 is held against movement out of the holster 12 by action of the electromagnets 36 which are energized iby the current flowing through the circuit which includes wire 49, Wire 41', wire 43', Wire 45', electromagnet 37, and wires 39 and 47'. Simultaneously, the electromagnet 37 is energized to hold open the contacts 32' and 34' in case there is any play of movement between the hook face 52 of the gun 14 and the adjacent abutment 68.

Referring now to the sliding movement of the locking member 46 which is permitted upon the removal of the pin 70 from the opcnings 72 and 76 and the aperture 74 provided in the locking member 46; an added feature of the present invention will be described.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the gun 14 will be seen to include a trigger 78 and a harnmer 80 mounted within the gun 14 for snap action movement in which caps are exploded, such construction and movement being common p in cap pistols and for which no invention is clairned. The mechanism for feeding the caps to the hamrner is not shown for reasons of simplification.

The trigger 78 is provided with a shoulder 82 against which one end of a lever 84 is under the tension of a coil spring 86 when the locking member 46 has been pulled to the position shown in Figure 5 in which the enlarged portion 48 is adjacent the open end of the barrel 16. Anotherv spring 88 having one or two coils wound about the pivotal connection of the lever 84 to thegun 14, normally pulls the lever 84 to the full line position shown in Figure 4 when the looking member 46 is not drawn to the forward end or discharge end of the barrel V16..

The enlarged portion 48 of the locking member 46 is provided on the side opposite the camming face 50 with a notch 90 which receives a shoulder 92 provided on the inner wall of the barrel 16 inwardly of the discharge end of the latter. The barrel 16 is provided with a slot 94 through which the camming face or cam face partially projects.

When the pin 70 is withdrawn from the aligned openings 72 and 76 and the aperture 74 in the gun barrel 16 and the locking member 46, respectively, upon energization of the associated electromagnet 36, the locking member 46 is drawn toward the electrornagnet 36. The gun 14 is no longer locked within the holster 12 and upon withdrawal of the gun 14 from the holster 12, the cam face 50 on the locking member 46 partially projects through the slot 94 with the hook face 52 engaged on the abutment 68 in the holster 12. As the gun 14 is withdrawn, the engagement of the hook face 52 on the abutment 68 causes the locking member 46 to be drawn forwardly of the barrel 16 applying tension to the spring 86 which has one end connected to the |rearward end of the locking member 46 and its other end connected to the lever 84 intermediate the ends of the latter. The forward end, Figure 5, of slot 94, acting against cam face 50 as the gun is drawn from the holster 12 causes the forward portion 60 to return to its aligned end to end position with respect to the rearward portion 54 and this effects the engagement of the shoulder 92 in the notch 90, holding the spring 86 under tension and shifting the lever 84 to the position in which its free end is engaged on the shoulder 82 of the trigger 78, 'restraining firing movement of the trigger 78.

Thus, it will be seen that two actions are provided by the apparatus of the present invention, namely, restraint of one gun from its holster if the other gun is pulled first; and secondly, restraint of the firing movement of the second gun to be pulled from its holster although permitting firing of the first gun from its holster.

Conventional means such as a three-way plug 96 is used to connect the wires within the conduits 42 and 44 with an appropriately constructed socket 98 on the end of the conduits 42 and 44 remote from the junction box 38. The plug 96 is connected by internal wires to the respective sides of the switch embodied by the contacts 32 and 34, the contact 32 having a common ground with the one end of the coil of the electromagnets 36 and 37, which has its other end connected to one of the other wires within the respective conduit 42 and 44, all of conventional construction.

It will be seen, therefore, that the apparatus of the present invention will aiford amusement and interest to juveniles and other persons and will enable them to practice withdrawing a gun from a holster and competitively display the dexterity of such persons.

The free end of the enlarged portion 48 projects outwardly of the barrel 16 When the locking member 46 has been moved to the forward position. play, finger pressure on the end of the portion 48 will disengage the shoulder 92 from the notch 90 and permit the spring 62 to retract the member 46 to the original position for repeated play.

What is claimed is:

1. Amusement apparatus comprising at least two holsters each aadpted to be worn by a person, a circuit closing means normally in closed position in each of said holsters, a gun insertable'into and withdrawable from each of said holsters, said guns upon being inserted in the respective holsters shifting said circuit closing means to open position and upon being withdrawn from the respective holsters permitting shifting of said circuit closing means to the normal closed positions, an energizable lock element carried by each of said holsters, means electrically connecting the element on one of said holsters to the circuit' closing means on the other of said holsters and the element on the other of said holsters to the circuit closing means on said one of said holsters,

After one means electrically connecting said circuit closing means to a source of electric current, and a locking member carried by each gun and movable into and out of engagement with the adjacent energizable element, the locking member of the gun when the gun is inserted in one of said holsters being actu'ated into engagement With the adjacent energizable element responsive to the withdrawal of the inserted gun from the other of said holsters.

2. Amusement apparatus comprising at least two holsters each adapted to be worn by a person, a switch including a fixed contact and a movable contact positioned within each of said holsters adjacent the bottom thereof, the movable contact of each switch being normally in contacting engagement with the fixed contact, a gun including a discharge barrel positioned within each of said holsters so that the free end of said barrel engages the adjacent movable contact and shifts the latter by gravity' out of contacting engagement with the adjacent fixed contact, an energizable lock element carried by each of' said holsters, means electrically connecting the element on one of said holsters to the switch on the other of said Vholsters and the element on the other of said holsters to the switch on said one of said holsters,

means electrically connectng said means to a source of electric current, and a lockng member positioned Within the barrel of each of said guns and connected to said barrel for movement into and out of engagement with the adjacent energizable element, the locking member in the barrel of the gun when inserted in one of said holsters being actuated into engagement With the adjacent energizable element responsive to shifting of the movable contact into contacting engagement With the fixed contact of the switch in the other of said holsters upon withdrawal of the inserted gun from the other of said holsters.

3. The amusement apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said energizable element embodies an electromagnet, and said locking member includes a magnetizable portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,857,629 Epstein May 10, 1932 2,309,614 'Jensen Ian. 26, 1943 2,710,754 Varney v June 14, 1955 

